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7 days Volcanoes and Haciendas
Level: Moderate ATVH-07
DAY 01: Otavalo and Cuicocha Lake We drive north to Imbabura “The Province of the Lakes,” for a short visit to the Indian market in Otavalo. We head up to Cuicocha Crater Lake (“Lake of the Guinea Pigs,” 3,068 m) which offers incredible Andean cloud forest scenery. Located within the Cayapas-Cotacachi national park, the lake features excellent birdlife and stunning scenery as we trek around the crater shore. Picnic lunch on the lake. Afternoon transfer and dinner at our hotel hacienda. (L, D) DAY 02: Cerro Imbabura After a healthy breakfast, we will attempt Cerro Imbabura (4,609m) arriving at the peak before midday. We are rewarded with great views of the valleys, lakes and towns from the heights of this ancient volcano. After lunch we will go south near Cotopaxi to spend the evening at an old colonial hotel hacienda. (B, L, D) DAY 03: Cotopaxi National Park After breakfast, we head to Cotopaxi National Park. We start our trek at Limpiopungo Glacier Lake where we can observe Andean animals and birds as we walk up Rumiñahui volcano. We will also see some of the local Indian lifestyle and introduced animals such as wild horses all under the sights of the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano. Evening back in our hacienda hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 04: Quilotoa Crater Lake After breakfast we drive to the stunning Quilotoa crater lake, where we find the famous Tigua culture. We’ll check out the local handcraft, which consists of painted animal skins. This is one of our favourite treks because of the exceptionally beautiful Andean landscapes. We trek down the crater lake on a steep sandy trail. In the afternoon we will drive to Salcedo. Evening in another hacienda hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 05: Chimborazo Arenal and Hieleros Path We drive south to Chimborazo national park. On a fair day, you find why Alexander Von Humbolt called this breath-taking landscape “The Avenue of the Volcanoes.” We trek east, ascending the gigantic Chimborazo, until we reach the Edward Whymper refuge, named after the Englishman who first set foot on its summit in 1880. After lunch, we start descending east bound through the Hieleros path. We may be able to see some people bringing down blocks of ice from the glacier to be sold at Riobamba’s market. This is a local tradition, and some families have been doing it for generations. In the afternoon we will meet our transport and drive to another colonial hacienda hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 06: Tungurahua & Baños We continue our trip to the Tungurahua province where we commence trekking in the cloud forest through the beautiful valley of the Patate River with impressive views of Tungurahua volcano. We will end our day in the stunning Pastaza gorge, which is a main gateway to the Amazon. The night will be spent in Baños, where you can enjoy the natural hot springs. (B, L, D) DAY 7: Explore Baños. Today we will relax and explore Baños, which is a colourful colonial town nestled in incredible geography and cloud forest surroundings at 1,500 m. We trek through some of the several incredible waterfalls nearby as well as the surrounding natural areas. After lunch we return to Quito. (B, L) INCLUDES: Professional bilingual guides, private transportation, hotels, meals as described. NOT INCLUDED: Drinks in restaurants or hotels, entrance fees to national parks, tips/gratuities. IMPORTANT FACTS: TRAVEL TIME: 2 to 3 hours each day TREKKING TIME: 3 to 5 hours each day SEASON: All year AVERAGE TEMPERATURE HIGHLANDS: DAY 8-20ºC, NIGHT 5-12ºC AVERAGE TEMPERATURE CLOUDFOREST: DAY 18-30ºC, NIGHT 16-20ºC ALTITUDE: 4500 m. to 1500 m. SUGGESTED: warm clothes, gloves, sun block, hat, rain gear, repellent. Detailed packing list upon request.
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